EDUC 7108 - Module 4: Disruptive Technologies and Second Life

Dr. David Thornburg (2009) describes Disruptive Technology as “New technology with the same functionality of an existing technology, but it functions more efficiently, and then obsoletes that technology.”

Philip Rosedale draws from his own personal experience expressing his desire to build and make things through a virtual world based on his imagination and creativity. He also wanted to apply the use of technology as means of inviting others into and share the world he created. He also sees virtual worlds as a way to organize, create, and share information across the web (Rosedale 2008).

Second life is a disruptive technology in that it extends beyond face-to-face interaction or interaction one may receive via basic communication such as e-mail, chatting, or low-end multimedia. Second life provides a virtual world based on the imagination and the desire or need to share information and/or real-world experiences with others across the web. Second life has replaced the standard way of gaming that originated with earlier systems such as ATARI and Nintendo.

With technology evolving at such a rapid pace, it’s difficult to predict when Second Life will be replaced by another technology. The social benefits of Second Life include the opportunity for collaboration among peers, real-world scenarios which could be used for classroom instruction and scenarios which promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students across virtual worlds.

Laureate, Inc. (2009). Disruptive technologies [Video]. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=3951732&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Rosedale, P. (2008). Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html